Konoha, the prison.
Kankuro was filled with anxiety, his hands and feet bound, his expression one of despair.
Temari dazed, seemingly unable to accept reality and confused about whether the future still existed.
"Damn it, why leave these two guys alive? They were the ones who attacked Konoha and killed the Third Hokage. What exactly are the higher-ups trying to do?"
"You two, be on your guard. Although these two are Genin in intelligence reports, their strength is no different from that of jonin. If they escape, I will be the one to get scolded."
Anko turned around to remind him, Izumo Kotetsu immediately nodded in agreement.
"Alright, thank you all for guarding me during this time. Leave the rest to me."
The footsteps grew closer, and the three turned their heads to notice a man dressed in Sunagakure attire behind them, his face ashen and filled with despair.
" Huayue, who is this...?"
"The teacher of those two in the cell, Baki, the Sunagakure representative who is participating in the Chunin Ninja Exams this time, will personally explain some things to those two ninjas."
Huayue spoke calmly. Anko was about to ask a question when Huayue stopped her with a look. Hong Dou's face turned red, and she stormed out of the prison.
When only four people remained in the room, Baki looked into the cell and saw his two favorite students with his eyes lowered.
" Kankuro, Temari, calm down and listen to me..."
Moments later, upon hearing the news of the Fourth Kazekage's death, the two were filled with disbelief, feeling as if the whole world was on the verge of collapse.
"Teacher, you must be joking. Father... he's the Fourth Kazekage, the strongest person in Sunagakure. How could this be?"
Baki lowered his head and remained silent, while Huayue spoke softly from not far away.
"The ones who did it were Orochimaru and Sasori of the Red Sands. Before leaving, Sasori of the Red Sands used the remains of the Fourth Kazekage and the Third Kazekage to make Human Puppet."
"Furthermore, some members of the Anbu noticed that Orochimaru used the forbidden technique Impure World Reincarnation during his battle with the Third Hokage, and that remnants of Gold Dust used by the Fourth Kazekage were present in the remnants..."
Her blank expression turned into anxiety and confusion. Temari looked up and felt that the figure in front of her looked very familiar.
" Gaara... how is my brother?"
"That child is sleeping soundly now. He has been suffering from insomnia for so many years, and only now can he finally get a good night's sleep. Although Rasa is a competent Kazekage, he is really a terrible father."
The tone echoing in her ears became increasingly familiar. Temari hesitated for a long time before finally asking.
"Your voice sounds familiar. Have we met somewhere before?"
"You remember now? That was the last time I delivered Sasori of the Red Sands's information to Sunagakure. It just so happened that we encountered the Shukaku riot. We've both grown up by then. Rasa's children are named Kankuro and Temari, right?"
Temari in surprise at the face before her, which seemed to have changed somewhat, but not as if it had been affected by the passage of time, her pretty face blushing slightly.
"Are you... the person who saved me that day?"
"Let's leave the reminiscing for later. Now that you're free, go see your brother. The monster inside him has been taken away, and he must be feeling very complicated right now."
"Free?"
Temari and Kankuro were quite surprised and subconsciously looked at their teacher beside them.
Beside him, Baki, who had been bowing his head in silence, sighed deeply and reluctantly agreed.
" Sunagakure was defeated and unconditionally agrees to all of Konoha's demands, guaranteed by Uchiha Huayue."
With a gentle smile and a nod to the group, Huayue turned and left.
Temari watched the slightly thin figure disappear around the corner, murmuring to herself, repeating the name over and over again.
In the afternoon, inside Konoha Hospital.
Baki and his group arrived at Gaara's hospital room. Gaara's expression was calm, a stark contrast to his usual ruthless and predatory demeanor.
"You've arrived?"
Gaara spoke first, causing the siblings to exchange bewildered glances.
Gaara, how was your rest?
"Very good. Over the years, apart from the day Yashamaru died, no day can compare to today."
His lips curled up, and his radiant smile and genuine expression left the others in disbelief.
"I... Gaara, what's wrong with you?"
Kankuro hurriedly asked, wondering if his younger brother, who had always only known how to kill, had become a completely different person.
"Look, even after Shukaku disappeared, my Absolute Defense remained here. Perhaps what has protected me all along is not Shukaku, but my mother."
"The chakra that has always been hidden beneath Shukaku's chakra is so warm. Perhaps my mother doesn't hate me and has always been silently protecting me."
As if the dark clouds were dispelled by the sun, a heartwarming smile appeared on Gaara's face, and the cracks that were about to collapse due to his father's death were slightly healed.
Outside the ward, Huayue leaned against the wall, a smirk playing on her lips, as several figures quietly approached.
"What business do you have with me, Anbu ninja?"
"Lord Huayue, the three Hokage Advisor request your presence..."
With a smile that grew even brighter, Huayue left with a group of Anbu and headed to the Hokage Office Building.
Meanwhile, outside Iwagakure, at the residence of Han Five-Tails Jinchūriki.
After cleaning his specially made Steam Armor, a hint of melancholy flashed in Han's eyes.
"Even if you succeed, Ōnoki will most likely choose to capture you and keep you under strict guard outside the village. That's the fate of Jinchūriki. You're a monk, so why can't you see through this, Roshi?"
Clap clap clap!
The applause was crisp and loud, almost within reach, and Han instantly entered battle mode, his whole body steaming.
"Who's there? Show yourself!"
As he looked around, a pair of exquisite and intricate eyes met Han's. In an instant, the entire world changed, transforming into an ominous world dominated by red and black.
"Compared to the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, you, the Five-Tails Jinchūriki who has always been loyal to the village, have a clearer understanding. It's a pity that you are destined to die a violent death today."
"Don't misunderstand, I wasn't the one who did it. I just came to borrow some chakra."
With a gentle touch of their palms, the Tailed Beast Chakra that had been overflowing from Han's body entered the newcomer's body.
[ Daily Sign-In event now open! You've touched a special chakra from the limited -Tsukuyomi World. Chakra sign-in event now open!]
[Chakra Sign-in: Five-Tails Kokuō ]
[Chakra Belongs to: Kokuō ]
[Successfully checked in! You have obtained the Tailed Beast, Five-Tails Saiken, today!]
The message flashed by, and he felt his body become even more active. Huayue shook his head helplessly. The chakra that appeared within Mind's Eye of the Kagura's Eye range made him turn around and look.
"Are you already so eager to unify the world, Nagato... Shadow Clone Technique, release."
Inside the meeting room, Huayue, beaming with smiles, surveyed her surroundings and cut straight to the point.
What brings you here?